THE recent snow saw staff at Musselburgh Burgh Primary School and Nursery create some ‘cool’ creations to bring a smile to children’s faces during lockdown.

They got to work building their own snowmen and igloos at home during the February holiday, much to the delight of pupils who saw them online.

Additional Support Needs (ASN) staff member Amy Scott’s snowman depicted her support for Musselburgh Athletic Football Club, dressed in the team’s blue and white, while Lyndsay Crawford turned fairy godmother to give her snowmen a magical touch.

During the coronavirus pandemic, staff members have been involved in a variety of initiatives to keep pupils entertained in lockdown.

Miss Scott said: “Our teaching staff have been filming, editing and posting countless videos for the children on their classroom pages, helping them with their tasks.”

Staff showed their dance moves in one video to Can’t Stop The Feeling from the Trolls movie, and a sports day video showed them engaged in different sports in their own homes. They even managed to stage a virtual tennis tournament and relay race.

A video showcasing all the fun and games was produced to show pupils when they returned to remote learning following the holiday.

Miss Scott said: “Before last summer, a lot of work also went in to putting together a virtual P7 leavers’ assembly.

“I, along with Lisa Livingstone and Rachel Gallagher, worked alongside the pupils collecting pictures and comments of their favourite times at the Burgh, their baby pictures and ambitions for the future, as well as filming them via Google Meets reading their lines for the script. We collated it all into an assembly for them all to be proud of.

“Since returning to school after last summer, we’ve worked alongside the children in both P1 and P7 as we delivered a very successful P7 remembrance assembly and P1 nativity. We knew the importance of these, not just for the children; it also allowed their parents and guardians to be a part of what is a very special and different year for both classes.

“As a Christmas present, the children were treated to a staff edition of Shakin’ Stevens’ Merry Christmas Everyone. I think this was the perfect pick-me-up for both staff and children at the end of a very difficult term.

“Last but by no means least, prior to the February break, we had a focus on wellbeing and mental heath, with the theme being ‘What You Do To Express Yourself Or To Relax’. Once again, the staff rallied round to show their favourite ways to relax, in the hope we can help the children if they are feeling down or stressed.”

Headteacher Jon Doyle and depute headteacher Natalie Copland have also been organising ‘virtual’ Friday assemblies.

Miss Scott said: “I am so pleased with everyone’s continued hard work this year, not just with ‘virtual’ learning but for taking the time to join in with these videos.

“If we’ve helped put a smile on at least one of their faces then we are happy.”